Relay device.



J. P. DOWNS.

RELAY DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, moz.

PATENTED MAY 29, 1906.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

JOHNP. DOWNS, or CLEVELAND, OHIO,AssIGNOE To THE NORTH ELECTRIC COMPANYyOF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION or QHIO.

RELAY DEVICE.

Patented May 29, 1906.

Application filed May 1, 1902. Serial No. 105,529.

To all whom it may concern; l

Beit known that I, JOHN P. DOWNS, a citizen of the United States -of America, and a resident of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyastruction of suchafppliances 1ny an extremely sim le manner, w ereby they are rendered hig ly efficient, sensitive, and certain in their operation. y

My im rovementsare peculiarly adapted to relay evices for telephone-circuits which are required to eHect the control of a lural,` ity of separate electrical circuits un er the influence `of a minimumoperating-current, while combining the advantages of being eX- ceedingly simple and compact in construction and aording every facility for inspection, adjustment, and repair.

Brieiiy described, the 'device embodying my invention which I herein illustrate comprises a single helix-covered core having a soft-iron continuation or pole-piece extending from the inner end of and parallel with said core to the plane of its opposite end, ber-- fore which 1sk mounted a freely-movable armature carrying a. roller or other suitable part for actuating the contact-making springs ofthe relay,which also lie parallel with the core and are secured closely together upon the relay in insulating-mountings.

The armature Iis supported upon pins extending through countersunk holes therein, the engaging walls of which are the acute-am,

.-led edges presented by sai/d countersunk oles, thus. affording a practically frictionless mounting fory the armature and permitting it directly to engage the extremity'of the aforesaid pole-piece, whereby any air-gap therebetween is obviated. By means of thisconstruction the armature and pole-piece orits extension engage each other over .relatively large areas, presenting tor eachl other engaging portions of practically unimpaired or full cross-section, affording paths of extremely low resistance for the passage of magnetic lines of force. An adjusting-screw vsecures the proper 1positioning respect to t e magnetic field and the contactsprings. An external shell of soft iron, preferably provided with a permanently-attached thumb-screw, maintains the parts securely against injury and .from magnetic disturbance from external sources and the entrance of foreign particles. 4

These and other details of my invention will be made more apparent b reference to the accompanying drawings, w erein- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation and partially in section the better to illustrate my improved construction. Fig.r 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof;l Fig. 3, a plan view; Figs. 4 and 5, end views thereof, and Fig. 6 a detail of the -arm'rature-mounting.

. The same vcharacter of reference is employed to designate similar-parts ineach of the several figures of the drawings. l

Upon the core 'is provided the usual helix or winding b, having its terminals b b mounted uponl the upper rear'portion of the relay. IImmediately above said terminals are disposed the flat paired contact-springs c c, d d', and e e', adapted to be connected with the controlled circuits, the said springs being securely mounted between thin strips of insuliting material at their rear or supported en s. springs arefreeto be brought into contact witheach other. The sprin s c c are normall engaged, respectively, y springs d d', whic ,however, are provided withu wardlyincline terminals and under the in uence of of the armature with ,thle armature-roller arelifted from contact with the former into engagement, respectively, with springs e e. Said springs e e have laterally-extending ears or lugs e, which, engaging the raised portions of the forward insuating-block centrally recessed or cut away to accommodate `the forwardlyextending ends ofythe remaiging springs, support these springs e e inthelr normally depressed posi- (tllpln out of contact with the actuated springs l v ,f

Secured to the core a is the soft-iron extenlsion or ole-piece g, extending downward and forward) to apposition even with the front end of the core. In its forward end are mounted two supporting-pins g, which carry the ar- The opposite ends of these parallel IOO mature h. The said armature is provided with two corresponding deeply-eountersunk holes h', the sharp edges ot which rest upon the pins7 thereby aliording a frictionless mounting for the armature, While perniittinD it to remain in complete magnetic contact with the extension or pole-piece g, along substantially 1'ts entire face or abutting end.

A brass screw j, inserted in the forward end of the core, extends through a central hole provided in the armature and carries an adjusting-nut j for regulating the position of the armature.

At the upper end of the said armature is inserted. a small rubber roller 7L, adapted when the relay is excited and the armature attracted to engage or roll beneath the inclined ends of springs d d, thereby raising them out of engagement with springs c c and into contact with the upper springs c e, thus opening and closing the respective controlled circuits. This, it will be seen, is quite readily and easily elceted, l'or the armature is supported in a in anner to be very easily actuated and slips readily beneath the superposed ends ol' the springs without encountering any appreciable i'riction. The magnetic circuit, too, being practically complete renders the device extremely sensitive and eflicient. ln practice numbers oi' these relays are mounted upon a common slotted supporting-strip 7s by screws inserted in their pole-pieces, interposed brass end plates t and insulating-washers Z serving to complete the rear ends of the relays.

Over the entire relay is disposed aprotective tubular shell m, ot sott iron, which is drawn closely to its seat, forme l by said slotted washer and end plates by means of' a tapped thumb-screw n, permanently and rotatably secured in the l'ront end ol the shell and engaging the outer extremity o'lt serew By thus attaching the thumb-screw to the shell its displaeeii'ient and loss are prevented.

The relay is protected by the. surrounding sliell l'rom injury 'trom the entrance of dust and dirt and l'ioni external magnetic influences. It is, however, readily accessible for the purposes oi inspection and repair merely by removing the said shell,A while the terminals may be reached from the opposite side ol' the supporting-strip through slots iii which said terminals extend. 'Moreover, any relay may be removed trom the common strip /c simply by withdrawingr a couple oi:

screws. y

ln the teleplione-relay above. set Vforth it will be seen that the contact spring-roller presents a simple and valmost. frietionless means for actuating the springs, that the armature is l'reely, though rigidly, supported upon the knife-edges and pins and by its adjusting-nut in proper position to react against the springs, that such mounting perl mits a closed magnetic circuit alongits base l not obtainable with alhinge-rnounting or a y simple imite-edge bearing, tor example, and that said contact-springs are so mounted as i to insure the certain opening and closing of the connected circuits.

The pi'ecise airai'igement, relation, and number of the contact-springs will of course vary with different applications of my improvement and the character of the circuits to be controlled. It is obvious that such springs may be omitted or altered in various Ways without departing from my invention, as, indeed, may the relay device itself, which I have shown to typil'y niy said invention, and I therefore claim such modifications.

l desire to secure by Letters'Patent the following:

l. The conibinativn with a helix-Wound core having a polar extension, of an armature responsive thereto7 magnetically engaging the extension in normal condition substantially throughout an area equal to their effective cross-sections, a knife-edge being pro vided for and freely supporting the armature, and contact parts adapted to be actuated by the said armature substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a helix-Wound core having a polar extension, ol an armature responsive thereto, magnetically engaging the extension in normal condition substantially throughout an area equal to their eli`ective cross-sections, a knife-edge being provided tor and l'recly supporting tie armature, contact partiy adapted to be actuated by the said armature and a protective shell inclosing the said parts substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a. helix-covered core, of its pohir extension, an armature mounted before and responsive thereto, the saine magnetically engaging'the extension in normal condition substantially throughout an area equal to their eii'e'ctive cross-sections, a eoimtersiink or beveled portion of the armature providing a practically frictionless support tlierel'or and a movable spring tially as set i'orth.

4. In a relay device, the combination with its helix-wound core, of a polar extensionA thereof, contact-springs disposed substantially parallel therewith, and an armature mounted between said parts substantially at right angles'therewith; said armature and polar extension abutting in their normal position over areas substantially equal to their iin impaired or eil'ective cross-section, the armature being positioned to rock between an opposing contact-.spring and the polar extension and react against the former to efi'eet a l change of electrical eoiitact, upon the excitaor part actuated by the armature substan- IIS tion of the helix-wound core, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with a helix-wound core, having a supporting polar extension, of an armature movable under the influence of the excited helix, the same being mounted before the extremity of the polar extension in position to present a maximum magnetic circuit therebetween, electrical contact parts positioned for actuation 'by said armature, and an interposed roller part associated therewith, substantially as described.

6. In a relay device, the combination with a helix-wound core, of its polar extension, contact-springs disposed substantially parallel with said core and extension, an armature part bodily positioned at right angles between the springs and extension, and a knifeedge bearing for the armature permitting its engagement with the extension over` an area substantially equal to their effective crosssections; said armature thus being positioned to rock between an opposing contact-spring and the supporting polar extension, and react against thespring to effect a change of its electrical contact, upon the magnetic excitation of tlie said extension, substantially as set forth.

7'. In a device of the class described, the combination with the helix-covered core, of an extension' thereof substantially parallel and terminating in practically the same plane therewith, an armature freely movable before the said core and extension and in magnetic contact with the latter throughout substantially their entire effective cross-sections, a knife-edge mounting provided therebetween, and a plurality of contact-springs adapted to move into and. out of engagement with each other under the iniiuence of said armature, substantially as set forth.

8. In an electric relay device the combination with the exciting-helix, of its core, a polar extension thereof, an armature mounted )efore the same-in position to be attracted 'l y the core, the said armature contacting i, Yith the pole-piece substantially throughout t ieir4 widths and resting freely upon a knifee ige formed by a countersunk hole in the arn ature, and a plurality of contact-springs adapted to be actuated into and out of electr cal engagement by the movements 'of the ar nature, substantially as set forth.

i. In a device of the class described the co; nbination with anexciting-helix, of a polepie :e adapted to be energized thereby, an arma zure abuttin f or magnetically engaging the same and adapted to be actuated when the helix is excited, said armature being' provid d with a countersunlr or beveled opening and hung or mounted upon the sharp edge the] aof in position to be attracted when the heli; is excited and contact-springs adapted to be moved into and out of electrical engagement by the armature, substantially as set forth.

10. In a telephone-relay the combination with a helix-wound core, of a polar extension substantially parallel therewith an armature having a countersunk opening supported from the acute edge thereof` before said polar extension and in magnetic contact therewith substantially throughout their widths, a roller part carried thereby and a plurality of contact-springs adapted to be actuated into and out of electrical engagement by the movements of the armature, substantially as set forth.

11. In a telephone-relay the combination with a helix-wound core of a polar extension substantially parallel therewith an armature having a countersunk opening supported from the acute edge thereof before said polar I extension and in magnetic contact therewith substantially throughout their widths, a roller part carried thereby a plurality of contact-springs adapted to be actuated into and out of electrical engagement by the movements of the armature and a rotective casing therefor inclosing the re ay parte substantially as set forth.

12. The herein-described telephone-relay, comprising asin le helix-wound core, a polar extension paraleltherewith, an armature supported atthe end of, and magnetically enagmg the sa1ne,in position to be attracted by the core, the armature having knife-edges formed therein to support it, an adjusting screw and nut, a rotatable roller part carried by the armature, contact-springs adapted to be actuated by the roller part into and out of electrical engagement, and'a protective casing for the relay parts, substantially as set forth.

13. In a relay device, the combination with a helix-wound core, of its polar extension, an armature mounted before the core ano extension, and ma netically engaging the ,butting end of the atter, countersunk or brvelcl .eles in the armature providing acute-angled supporting portions therefor, and contact parts adapted to be actuated into and out of electrical engagement by the movements of the armature, substantially as set forth.

14. In a relay device, the )combination with a helix-wound core, of its polar extension terminating approximately in the plane of the forward end of said core, an armature mounted before the core and extension, and magnetically engaging the abutting end of the latter, beveled or countersunk holes in the armature providing acute-angled supporting portions therefor, an actuating part operated by the armature, and contact parts adapted to be actuated thereby into and out IIO izo

of sleotlcn engagement, suoqtanbialy as sei, forth.

l5. L1 :1 relay device, the combination with a MHK-Wound core, 0l" its polar extansion, :m armature mounted at the 0nd of Said extcugion, and nmguctmly engaging the same throughout zu. arca suosnfutnly @quali to their ol'cLY/'c cross-sections, and Contact Darts ndzlptd to be actuatcd int@ 'and out of desi-'fin engagement by the 1n o' the armature, substantially Set Anth.

Signedby me, in the pleseuosa K l i L scrbng Mmssss, at Clevelmlc', Uho, this 23d day of A9111, A.. E). .V1/Q02.

I E .I T) 1 A /T'messes l l. l ALBERT 

